Regions to cut unnecessary ambulance call-outs

Regional triple-0 operators will begin using a system which diverts non-life threatening ambulance calls to other health services over the next year.

RefCom has helped to reduce unnecessary ambulance call-outs in Melbourne for almost 10 years.

Ambulance Victoria's Danny McGennisken says all regional areas will have the system by the end of 2013.

He say it could not be introduced until a new computer system was in place.

"One of the things that is required to be able to enable this service to commence has been that we achieve a state-wide computer aided dispatch system ... and that single system then enables this additional functionality to be put in place," he said.